Collision results in one fatality; another with major injuries

A Fort Jones resident was killed and a Etna man suffered major injuries in a head-on collision on Highway 3 Saturday afternoon.

According to the California Highway Patrol, at approximately 2:55 p.m., Kurt Douglas Lorenzini, 21, of Yreka, the driver of a 1993 Nissan pickup, was traveling southbound on Highway 3 about one half mile north of Forest Mountain summit when he became distracted and inadvertently allowed his vehicle to cross into the northbound lane, a CHP press release said.

The vehicle proceeded to collide head-on with two motorcycles. One motorcycle rider, Daniel Gerard Mathos, 53, of Fort Jones, sustained fatal injuries and the other rider, Michael Philip Neely, 56, of Etna, sustained major injuries and was transported to Fairchild Medical Center in Yreka and later to Mercy Medical Center in Redding. Lorenzini was not injured in the collision, the CHP said.

At this time, it does not appear that alcohol or drugs were a factor in this accident, stated the CHP.

Both motorcycle riders were wearing helmets at the time of the collision.

"It is imperative that drivers be unswervingly attentive to the road to the front of their vehicle. Even very brief lapses in attentiveness can have catastrophic and tragic consequences," said Yreka Area Commander, Captain George Peck.